RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) affects the light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of the eye (retina); making cells break down until vision loss incurs.

Common symptoms of RP include loss of night vision, decrease in peripheral vision, and blindness.

RP forms from alteration in genes  of the retina; typically passed down from parents to children.

• Electroretinography (ERG): scans for how well retina responds to light
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): utilizes light waves to take a detailed tomography of retina
• Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging: uses blue light to take a picture of the retina
• Genetic testing: confirms diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa

 There’s no cure for RP; however, low vision aids and rehabilitation may aid individuals in using the remnant of their vision.

Information is courtesy of the National Eye Institute/ National Institutes of Health (NEI/NIH).